Sahrawi SC
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| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Sahrawi Sporting Club |
| Short Name: | Sahrawi • SSC |
| Nicknames: | The Desert Falcons The National Club |
| Founded: | August 8, 2026; |
| Location: | Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Morocco |
| Owner: |  Salem Ould Mohamed
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| President: | Salem Ould Mohamed
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| Manager: |  Younes Chadli
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| Facilities | |
| Stadium | El Aiun International Stadium |
| Location: | Nozhna Street 0108, Layooune, Western Sahara |
| Capacity: | 12.000 |
| Opening | 22 August 2026 |
| Other Facilities | Sahara Performance Center |
| Match Kits | |
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Sahrawi Sporting Club (3364539) (Español:Club Deportivo Saharaui; Francés: Club Sportif Sahraoui) commonly known as Sahrawi SC or simply SSC, is a hattrick football club founded in 2026 and based in El Aaiún, Western Sahara. The club competes in the Moroccan football league system and was created with the aim of becoming the leading football institution in the Sahrawi region.
The club plays in the El Aiun International Stadium and is popularly known as The Desert Falcons
History
Foundation
Sahrawi Sporting Club was officially founded in 2026, the brainchild of a group of Sahrawi businesspeople and investors involved in the energy, transportation, construction, and trade sectors. The project was born with a much greater ambition than simply creating a new local team. Its founders aimed to build a sports institution capable of representing the various cities and communities of Western Sahara and, at the same time, competing within the professional structure of Moroccan football. From its very founding documents, the club adopted the following principle: "One desert. One club. One dream."
The name Sahrawi Sporting Club was deliberately chosen in English to give it an international identity and differentiate it from the traditional names of clubs in the region.
Beginnings
Unlike many local clubs, Sahrawi SC was born with a business and sporting structure designed to quickly reach the top tiers. The project was partly inspired by the models of clubs from small regions that managed to become national powerhouses thanks to strong private investment, a professional structure, and an aggressive training and recruitment policy. The Moroccan competitive structure offered the new club a defined sporting path: professional competitions are organized by the Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel (LNFP), while amateur football falls under the Ligue Nationale de Football Amateur (LNFA) and its various divisions.
Therefore, SSC began its existence in the lower tiers of the Moroccan system, aware that it would have to climb the ranks on the pitch to reach the top tier.
Legal Status
SSC is one of several expatriate Non official football countries, playing in the Moroccan Football League. its status in Morocco is a "guest club", and as such it does not participate in the Sahrawi Cups and Tournaments and cannot represent Sahrawi internationally. This makes any international qualification from local league football impossible under current rules. Although the club is legally based in Western Sahara, identifies with the country, and has Sahrawi roots, it is legally considered Moroccan. Its players, born and raised in Sahrawis, are considered Sahrawis and may contribute to the country's identity, but they represent Morocco internationally.
Facilities
Stadium
Main article: El Aiun International Stadium
The main stadium of Sahrawi SC is the El Aiun International Stadium, is a multi-use stadium located in Laayoune, Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. It is used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 15,000 people.
Symbols and Colors
From its founding, the club adopted the desert hawk as its symbol. For the founders, the animal represented three characteristics that should define the new team: speed, endurance, and freedom. The hawk quickly became part of the club's identity. Fans began using the nickname "The Desert Hawks," while the club named various facilities at its academy Al Saqr—"The Hawk." The first crest featured a stylized hawk on golden dunes, surrounded by the colors green and white.
